Canada Graduate Scholarship – Master’s (CGSM) 2020-21
Overview of Awards Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship • Master’s (CIHR CGSM): $17,500/year; for 1 year Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship • Master’s (NSERC CGSM): $17,500/year; for 1 year Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship • Master’s (SSHRC CGSM): $17,500/year; for 1 year Other Tri-Agency Awards: Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement • Up to $6,000 for a period of research study abroad
Eligibility Criteria • Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident of Canada • Graduate program with a significant research component • Completed no more that 12 months of full-time studies in the graduate program as of December 31, 2019 • Have at least a 3.5 GPA in each of the last two completed years of study (full-time equivalent) • Have not received any other Tri-Council funding for a master’s program
Application Process • Apply via the CGSM Research Portal (https://portal-portail.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/). Deadline: December 1, 2019 (6:00 PM Mountain Time, 8:00 PM Eastern Time) • You may select up to 3 institutions for your proposed study. • If not yet admitted to a graduate program, you must also apply for admission at University of Alberta no later than February 7, 2020 or by the department program deadline, which ever comes first, in order to be considered for the CGSM at the University of Alberta. • After December 1, 2019 : FGSR reviews CGSM applications for eligibility and completeness and forwards applications to departments • Departments conduct preliminary evaluations, rank applications and forward to the FGSR Graduate Scholarship Committee for final adjudication. • Decisions are announced via Research Portal on April 1, 2020.
Application Components • A completed application form • An outline of proposed research (one page max, plus one page for citations) • CV (to be completed on the Canadian Common CV online system) • Two letters of reference (to be uploaded online by referees before December 1st) • Official and up-to-date transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended, including University of Alberta transcripts (scanned and uploaded).
A Note about Transcripts… • Students are required to upload all of their original, up-to-date transcripts to the Research Portal • Detailed instructions regarding transcript requirements (and definitions of “official” and “up-to-date” are available on the CGSM Application Instructions web page • If your transcripts are uploaded incorrectly OR your transcript record is incomplete, the application could be marked as ineligible • You are required to provide a complete academic history of your post-secondary education – All transfer credit transcripts (even if they were transferred to this university) – OFFICIAL University of Alberta transcripts – All transcripts of incomplete work/non-degree study/qualifying years, etc. – In almost all cases, FGSR will not release transcripts back to student, even if we have them on file.
Selection Criteria Academic excellence • As demonstrated by past academic results, transcripts, awards and distinctions • Weight: 50% Research Potential • As demonstrated by the applicant’s research history, their interest in discovery, the proposed research, its potential contribution to the advancement of knowledge in the field, and any anticipated outcomes • Weight: 30% Personal Characteristics and Interpersonal Skills • As demonstrated by the applicant’s past professional and relevant extracurricular interactions and collaborations • Weight: 20%
Questions? For program-related info: FGSR Awards Services grad.awards@ualberta.ca Tel: 780-492-9460 uab.ca/gradstudies Tri-Agency Contact Info: Available on the CGSM Application Instructions webpage or on the CGSM Program Information webpage. For Research Portal issues/questions: Contact the Research Portal Helpdesk.
Reference Letters How to make sure they are helpful to your application Dr. Ann McDougall Professor Department of History & Classics Graduate Scholarship Committee Member
Reference Letters Organization of Presentation -What parts of your application do Reference Letters actually speak to ? -What are evaluators (who write such letters) asked to address ? - How does this (knowledge) influence: - who you should ask for a reference? - what information you should provide? - when you should make your request?
Categories to which Reference Letters Apply Academic Excellence (50%) As demonstrated by past academic results, transcripts, awards and distinctions. Rating: Top 2% Top 5% Top 10% Top 25% Below Top 25% Unable to comment Provide an assessment of the applicant's skills, abilities, achievements, awards, experience and contributions related to this criterion. Use concrete examples.
Criteria for this Category • Academic record (first class average) • Scholarships and awards held • Duration of previous studies • Type of program and courses pursued • Course load • Relative standing (if available)
Categories to which Reference Letters Apply Research Potential (30%) “ As demonstrated by the applicant’s research history , their interest in discovery, the proposed research , its potential contribution to the advancement of knowledge in the field, and any anticipated outcomes .” Rating: Top 2% Top 5% Top 10% Top 25% Below Top 25% Unable to comment Provide an assessment of the applicant's skills, abilities, achievements, awards, experience and contributions related to this criterion. Use concrete examples.
Criteria for this Category • Quality and originality of contributions to research and development • Relevance of work experience and academic training to field of proposed research • Significance, feasibility, and merit of proposed research • Judgment and ability to think critically • Ability to apply skills and knowledge • Initiative, autonomy and independence • Research experience and achievements relative to expectations of someone with the candidate’s academic experience
Categories to which Reference Letters Apply Personal Characteristics/Interpersonal Skills (20%) “As demonstrated by the applicant’s past professional and relevant extracurricular and interactions and collaborations.” Rating: Top 2% Top 5% Top 10% Top 25% Below Top 25% Unable to comment Provide an assessment of the applicant's skills, abilities, achievements, awards, experience and contributions related to this criterion. Use concrete examples .
Criteria for this Category • Work experience • Leadership experience • Project management including organizing conferences and meetings • The ability or potential to communicate theoretical, technical and/or scientific concepts clearly and logically in written and oral formats • Involvement in academic life • Volunteerism/community outreach
Who should you ask? • Consider what kinds of information your referees are being asked to ‘assess’: - who, among your professors, are best positioned to address that information? e.g. Academic Excellence: at least one should have taught you, preferably in more than one class and/or in a range of levels (300- level lecture, 400-level seminar) e.g. Research : at least one, preferably both, should be familiar with the subject of your proposed research; at least one should be knowledgeable in the field
Who should you ask? • Consider what kinds of information your referees are being asked to ‘assess’: e.g. Personal: if possible, referees should have interacted with you in some context, outside the classroom or at least be aware of your activities within, contributions to the department and/or beyond (e.g. student associations, sports, community )
Who should you ask? General Considerations: • Chose someone who knows you personally: more important than (say) Professor with whom you have highest marks • marks speak for themselves – these letters are assessments of what those marks mean in terms of criteria listed above
Who should you ask? General Considerations: • This is NOT about status: Chairs, Deans, other ‘important’ administrators do not carry extra weight here and normally are not good choices (unless they know you well) • That said, permanent Faculty members are preferred over Contract Instructors; they do carry more weight because they are known and more familiar with what is required in these recommendations
Who should you ask? General Considerations: • If in 4 th year (entering MA 2020): letters should be from 4th year if possible; if not, then from second term previous year – as recent as can be arranged keeping other criteria in mind • If in 1 st year (in MA autumn 2019): one letter should be from 4 th year (whether at UofA or elsewhere), the other from your (UofA) supervisor (s/he needs to speak to your research proposal)
What Information to Supply? Consider what kinds of information your referees are being asked to ‘assess’: And make sure they have that information!! • CV (easiest to provide them with your SSHRC CV; alternately – one that shows awards, work experience, volunteer work etc.) • Research Proposal – the exact one you are submitting
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